Liverpool travel to Tottenham Hotspur for their opening Premier League game, and captain Steven Gerrard thinks the awkward fixture will be good for the club.

"You expect it now with [Rafael Benitez] in charge," Gerrard told LFC Weekly Magazine, bemoaning the club's tendency to start fresh campaigns away from Anfield. "I don't think he's ever had a home game to start the season in all his time at the club.

"But I think that if you take a step back and look at it in detail, there are benefits to beginning the season away from home," he continued.

"If you can achieve three points knowing you've then got two games to come in front of your own supporters [it's a great boost]."

Gerrard admitted Liverpool are aiming to make a quick start to the campaign.

"The start to the season's always crucial because you can build momentum quickly," he explained.

"They're all tough games, you don't get easy games in our league, but if we could get three points from each of the first three games, then that would be us off to a flier, and that will be our intention."

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has proclaimed that he is ready to put his maturity and consistency on full display with the Reds.

Johnson - who has a Premier League winner's medal with Chelsea from the 2004-05 season - believes that he has aged like wine since his tryst with the Blues.

"I’d say I’m more mature [now]," he told The Daily Post.

Referring to the infamous incident concerning the loss of his passport before a Champions League game with the Blues, and his fallout with Jose Mourinho, he said, "There were a couple of incidents that got blown out of proportion and were totally wrong.

"That’s not for me to worry about. I’ve put it behind me and it’s not important.

"I’ve aged. I’m improving all the time and that has been a key factor."

Johnson then touched upon the subject of his career choices, and how he has had to pave his way into the Merseyside club by moving to Portsmouth and performing consistently.

"Before I didn’t play [much with Chelsea], so it’s impossible to put in performances if you don’t play," he said.

"Joining Portsmouth was fantastic for me because I was playing week in, week out, and working hard in training.

"The most important thing for any player is consistency in playing games. That is when you learn from your mistakes.That is the one thing I can put my finger on."

The former Pompey defender hailed his current team, and stated that this could be the season that the Anfield club win the Premier League title.

"It could be a big year," he enthused.

"We have high hopes within the Liverpool camp.

"With the World Cup coming up it’s a big year for everyone."

The full-back finally hoped that he would continue his form at Fratton Park into this season.

“I was happy to play last season and put in decent performances," he said.

"The longer that continues the better."

Johnson joined Liverpool this summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £18 million.

Fernando Torres has spoken of his sadness following the death of former teammate Dani Jarque on Saturday.

The Espanyol captain, who played alongside Torres when Spain won the European U19 Championships in 2002, died of a heart attack following a training session in Italy.

Torres said: “In these hard times I want to express my sincere condolences and I offer all my support to Dani’s family, friends and Espanyol teammates.”

Meanwhile, details of Alberto Aquilani’s move from Roma have been revealed on the Italian club’s website.

Roma’s breakdown of the switch states that Liverpool have paid 5million euros up front and there will be further cash installments of 3m euros on January 4 2010, 7m euros on June 30 2010 and 5m euros on June 30 2011.

Further add-ons include 300,000 euros each time Liverpool qualify for the Champions League between 2010/11 to 2014/15, 1million euros the first time Liverpool wins either the Premier League or Champions League before June 30 2014 and 5% of any future transfer fee.